Paul Burns 1941-2015
Paul E. Burns, 73, Valley Falls, died Monday, March 9, 2015, at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center in Topeka.
He was born Nov. 12, 1941, on the family farm east of Valley Falls, the son of James P. and Bertha Wenzl Burns. He graduated from Valley Falls High School in 1959, and had attended Kansas State University.
Mr. Burns had been water superintendent for the City of Valley Falls for 25 years. He had also raised cattle throughout his life.
He was a member of St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Council 6671, both in Valley Falls. He served on the church council, and as a lector and song leader. He received the Municipal Operator of the Year award from the Kansas Rural Water Association in 1999. He served on the Jackson Rural Water District No. 3 board of directors and on the Valley Falls City Council.
He married Mary Jane Coons on March 3, 1962, at Valley Falls. She survives.
Other survivors include three sons, Joe Fasulo and wife Lanie, Olathe, Rich Fasulo and wife Vic, Acworth, Ga., and Larry Burns and wife Kristy, Valley Falls; a daughter, Dawna Edmonds, Valley Falls; 11 grandchildren, Meg, Taylor, Nick, Justin and Jordan Fasulo, Jade, Lawryn and Kendy Edmonds and Blake, Luke and Mallory Burns; two stepgrandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren; two brothers, Tom Burns and wife Peggy, Topeka, and Phil Burns and wife Shirley, Westpoint, Neb.; five sisters, Ruth Langen, Olympia, Wash., Mary Triggs and husband John, Topeka, Margaret Dawson and husband Quentin, St. Francisville, La., Alice Edmunds, Manhattan, and Rita Burns, Topeka; three sisters-in-law, Agnes, Marilyn and Deena Burns; and two brothers-in-law, Dan Coons and wife Lynne and Bill Coons and wife Brenda. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Ray, Pat, and Terry Burns.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Valley Falls. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. A prayer service followed by a visitation will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart/Stroke Association or to the Valley Falls Athletic Association, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 6, Valley Falls, KS 66088.